The Wave, Denmark, by Henning Larsen Architects

Architecture & Interiors

Henning Larsen Architects is an international architecture company with strong Scandinavian roots. Their goal is to create vibrant, sustainable projects that reach beyond themselves and become of durable value to the user and to the society and culture that they are built into. Their project “The Wave”, in Vejle, Denmark has received the prestigious LEAF Award, Residential Building of the Year 2010 in the sub-category ‘multiple occupancy’. The LEAF Awards are presented by the association of European architects, Leading European Architects Forum, which has recognised innovative architectural projects with awards since 2002.

The project was singled out by an impartial judging panel from among several projects, including “Yokosuka Kamoi Housing” by Iida Archiship Studio, “Andersen Garden” by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and “Phoenix Heights” by Brady Mallalieu Architects. The Wave in Vejle is a new unique housing and with its sculptural and organic forms it will become the new landmark of Vejle. With the magnificent location overlooking the promenade and the bay the characteristic building both respects and challenges the potential of the area.

“It is fantastic that a project of this kind can achieve international recognition of this calibre”, says Søren Øllgaard, associate partner in the firm. “The Wave started out as a very simple idea – a wave stroke on a piece of paper – and already with the building of the first two “waves”, Vejle has been given a new, distinctive landmark – a sculptural icon that both respects and challenges its surroundings.”During the day the white waves are reflected in the sea and at night the characteristic profile will look like illuminated multi-coloured mountains. The building has 140 attractive apartments many with two-story house plans, all with a wonderful view

The Wave is inspired by the characteristics of the area: the fjord, the bridge, the town and the hills. The clear and easily recognisable signature of the building connects the residential area with the sea, the landscape and the town. In addition to the LEAF Award, the Wave in Vejle was recently announced as winner of the Vejle Award 2009. The architecture award is presented by Vejle Town Council and given to “beautiful new build and facilities of a high architectural quality”. The objective of the award is to put focus on the architecture policy of the town of Vejle.